Smoking Apparatus Having Diffuser

ABSTRACT

A smoking apparatus for vaporizing a smoking product such as tobacco and herb products. The smoking apparatus is preferably made entirely out of glass. The smoking apparatus comprises a bowl at a first end that receives the smoking product through an open top end, a screen support area immediately below the bowl having one or more screen supports, a product support pellet that rests on the screen supports to support the smoking product, a hollow stem in fluid flow communication with the bowl to allow the user to draw vapor from the bowl and a diffuser removably received in the open top end of the bowl for diffusing heat across the smoking product to vaporize it. The diffuser has a diffusing element made out of the frit. No metal contacts the product, vapor or user. The smoking apparatus can be a pipe or an adapter for a water pipe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/255,483 filed Oct. 27, 2009.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGAPPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The field of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses andsystems for smoking tobacco and other generally loose leaf products. Inparticular, the present invention relates to such smoking apparatusesand systems that are configured to diffuse heat onto the smoking productto vaporize it prior to inhaling. Even more particularly, this inventionrelates to such apparatuses and systems that are made entirely orsubstantially out of glass or other non-metallic materials.

B. Background

People have been smoking tobacco and other generally loose leaf smokingproducts for many years. Although such smoking products can becompressed and/or rolled inside a paper or paper-like wrapper forsmoking, such as cigarettes, many people prefer to smoke the smokingproduct in a pipe. In fact, pipe smoking, has been around for manythousands of years and has been used by many different culturesthroughout the world for enjoyment, religious, official or ceremonialpurposes. Generally, pipes utilized for smoking have an elongated hollowstem portion that functions as the mouthpiece and which is received inthe user's mouth and an interconnected open top bowl in which thesmoking product is placed and to which a heat source, typically an openflame such as from a match or lighter, is applied to create smoke fromthe smoking product. The user inhales the smoke, which has the flavoringand psychoactive compounds desired from the smoking product, from thebowl through the stem. The bowl of the typical pipe is positioned in ornearly in right angle relation to the stem such that the opening to thebowl is in upstanding relation to the user's mouth when he or she isinhaling the smoke through the stem. The flame or other heat source isheld over the smoking product and drawn down onto the smoking productdue to the suction created by the inhalation action of the user. Toprevent the smoking product from being drawn into the stem, andtherefore the user's mouth, most pipes have a screen or like device ator near the bottom of the bowl on which the smoking product is supportedwhile the heat source is applied. The screen, typically made out ofstainless steel or other metal, has openings that are sized to allowsmoke to pass through to the stem while retaining the burned material inthe bowl so it may be discarded.

Over the years, pipes have been made out of many different types ofmaterials, including ceramic, wood, metal, clay and the like, and in awide variety of different sizes and shapes. A popular material for pipesutilized for smoking is glass. Although the popularity of glass pipeshas increased significantly in recent years, glass pipes have beenutilized for smoking for many years. In fact, there is some evidencethat glass pipes have been used for hundreds, if not thousands, ofyears. As in the past, glass smoking pipes are formed by a glass blowingprocess that starts with molten glass which is usually hand blown intothe desired shape by a person who is skilled in the art of glassblowing. The popularity of glass pipes is due to the fact that glasspipes are generally easier to clean, are available in a wide variety ofshapes and colors and provide a cleaner or more “pure” taste. Prior artglass pipes generally have a screen support area in the bowl thatsupports a metal screen on which the smoking product is placed prior toexposing the product to the heat source. Many people do not like themetallic taste that results from use of the metal screen to support thesmoking product.

A relatively recent improvement to pipes utilized to enjoy smokingproducts such as tobacco and the like, including herbal products such asmedicinal marijuana, is the use of a diffusing apparatus to diffuse theheat from the heat source and vaporize the smoking product such that avapor is inhaled by the user instead of smoke. Use of a diffusingapparatus, which is commonly referred to as a diffuser, diffuses theheat source such that only heated air is passed through to the smokingproduct. This diffusing of the heat source vaporizes the smokingproduct, instead of burning the product, providing a vapor which is muchcleaner, smoother and better tasting (as the product intends) for theuser. In addition, vaporizing the smoking product generally does notproduce as much toxic and/or carcinogenic byproducts as burning theproduct. Another benefit of vaporizing the smoking product, as opposedto burning it, is that it provides for more efficient use of the smokingmaterial due to the fact that the desired flavor and/or psychoactivecompounds are not destroyed or otherwise altered by the burning of thesmoking product.

One presently available diffuser for use with smoking products is theelectrically operated Volcano® from Storz and Bickel. Diffusers such asthese require a source of electricity, typically plugged into the wallor other outlet, to generate the heat required to vaporize the smokingproduct. Because they require the source of electricity, they aresomewhat inconvenient and generally not very portable. Due to therelative complexity of such devices, they also tend to be somewhatexpensive. The Vapor Genie®, available from VaporGenie, LLC, isconfigured as a pipe with the diffuser placed at or near the top of thebowl, at or in its open end, above the screen on which the smokingproducts rests. The diffuser comprises a plurality of very smallopenings through which heat from the heat source (i.e., open flame)passes and is diffused above the smoking product on the screen. In oneconfiguration, the flame filter diffuser is made from a ceramicmaterial, typically silicon carbide. The open flame from a match orlighter is held above the open portion of the bowl such that the flameis drawn down through the diffuser when the person inhales. The diffusercauses the flame to vaporize the smoking product instead of burning it,allowing the user to inhale the vapor that contains the flavor andpsychoactive compounds of the smoking material. The Vapor Genie® deviceis provided with a stainless steel bowl and a stainless steel screen.

Despite the various advantages of the presently available smokingapparatuses, many people desire an improved smoking apparatus.Specifically, many people desire to combine the various advantages anddesirable features of the glass pipes with the diffusing capabilityprovided by the presently available diffusers. What is needed,therefore, is an improved smoking apparatus that is made out of glassand which has a diffuser for vaporizing the smoking product to providemore enjoyment and benefits from smoking the smoking product. Thepreferred smoking apparatus should eliminate or at least minimize theuse of metal for any of the components of the pipe, including thescreen. Preferably, such as pipe should be useful with a variety ofsmoking products, including tobacco and other herbal products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The smoking apparatus of the present invention provides the benefits andsolves the problems identified above. That is to say, the presentinvention discloses an improved smoking apparatus that is made out ofglass and which has a diffuser for vaporizing the smoking product placedinto the bowl of the pipe. In a preferred embodiment, the smokingapparatus is entirely made out of glass that is blown into a desiredsize and shape. In one embodiment, the smoking product is supported inthe bowl of the pipe on a glass pellet, which functions as the “screen”for the pipe. A diffuser is received into the open top of the glass bowlto diffuse the heat from an open flame, such as from a match or lighter,to vaporize the smoking product placed on the glass pellet in the bowl.In the preferred embodiment, the diffuser is also made out of a glasswith a frit material as the filter that diffuses the heat. In anotherembodiment, the smoking apparatus can include a standard or traditionalscreen that is made out of metal, such as stainless steel or the like.In one embodiment, the improved smoking apparatus is configured as aglass pipe with the bowl integral to the pipe and the glass pellet andglass diffuser removably received in the bowl. In another embodiment,the improved smoking apparatus is configured in the same manner bututilized as an adapter for a water pipe or the like. In anyconfiguration, the improved smoking apparatus of the present inventioncan be utilized with a wide variety of smoking products.

In a primary embodiment of the present invention, the improved smokingapparatus generally comprises a bowl at or near its first end, a hollowstem towards its second end, a screen support disposed below the bowl, aproduct support device removably received in the screen support forreceiving and supporting a smoking product and a diffuser for diffusingheat from a heat source, such as a flame from a torch lighter, match,cigarette lighter or the like, to vaporize the smoking product on theproduct support device. The smoking apparatus does not burn the smokingproduct. In the preferred embodiment, the entire smoking apparatus ismade out of glass so no metal contaminates the vapor. The bowl has anopen top end that is configured to receive the smoking producttherethrough. The stem is in fluid flow communication with the bowl so auser can draw air and vaporized product from the bowl to his or hermouth. The screen support area has one or more screen supports forsupporting the product support device. In the preferred embodiment, theproduct support device is a glass pellet that is sized and configured torest on the screen supports in a manner that allows air and vapor topass between it and the screen support area. Preferably, the productsupport pellet has a substantially planar upper surface on which toreceive and support the smoking product. The diffuser has a first endand a second end, with the second end being removably received in theopen top end of the bowl. The diffuser sized and configured to engagethe bowl and be in spaced apart relation to the smoking product on theproduct support pellet. The diffuser comprises a diffusing element thatis fixedly secured to the inside wall of the diffuser at or near itsfirst end. In the preferred embodiment, the diffusing element is madeout frit with a plurality of apertures therein. In one embodiment, thefrit comprising the diffusing element has a porosity of 150 to 250 μm.The diffuser is configured to allow a user to draw air and heat into thebowl through the diffuser and diffuse heat across the smoking product soas to vaporize the smoking product. The smoking apparatus can beconfigured as a pipe or as an adapter for a water pipe.

Accordingly, the primary aspect of the present invention is to providean improved smoking apparatus for vaporizing smoking products that hasthe advantages discussed above and which overcomes the disadvantages andlimitations associated with prior art smoking apparatuses.

It is an important aspect of the present invention to provide a smokingapparatus that has a diffuser configured to vaporize smoking productinside the smoking apparatus instead of burning it and which has nometal components that are in contact with the smoking product or vaporto prevent contamination of the vapor.

It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide animproved smoking apparatus that comprises a diffuser having a diffusingelement that is made out of frit which is configured to diffuse heatfrom a flame source to vaporize the smoking product in the apparatuswithout burning the product.

It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide animproved smoking apparatus that is entirely made out of glass, has aremovable diffuser for diffusing the heat from a flame and which can beconfigured as a pipe or an adapter for a water pipe.

The above and other aspects and advantages of the present invention areexplained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and thedescription of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forthherein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form,construction, mode of operation and combination of the above presentlydescribed and understood by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the bestmodes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a smoking apparatus configured as a pipe andaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pipe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the pipe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a pellet that is utilized as a product supportin the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pellet shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the diffuser utilized with the embodiment ofthe present invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the diffuser shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative configuration for the pipe ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention showing the smoking apparatus configured as a water pipeadapter; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative configuration of the water pipeadapter embodiment of the smoking apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given likenumerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of thepresent invention, the preferred embodiments of the present inventionare set forth below. The enclosed figures are merely illustrative of oneof the preferred embodiments and, therefore, represent one of severaldifferent ways of configuring the present invention. Although specificcomponents, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, itshould be understood that a number of variations to the components andto the configuration of those components described herein and shown inthe accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope andfunction of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although thefigures and description provided herein show certain shapes for thesmoking apparatus, those skilled in the art will readily understand thatthis is merely for purposes of simplifying this disclosure and that thepresent invention is not so limited.

An improved smoking apparatus that is configured pursuant to one of thepreferred embodiments of the present invention is shown as a pipe thatis identified generally as 10 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. An alternativeconfiguration for pipe 10 is shown in FIG. 8. As set forth in moredetail below, the improved smoking apparatus can also be configured as awater pipe adapter 12 or 14, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively.As with standard pipes, the improved pipe 10 of the present inventionhas an open top bowl 16, in which the smoking product 17 is placed, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 8, that is interconnected to and in fluid flowcommunication with a hollow stem 18 through which vaporized smokingproduct 17 is transferred to the user from the bowl 16. The first end 20of pipe 10 corresponds to the open top of the bowl 16 and the second end22 of pipe 10 corresponds to the open tip of the stem 18. The second end22 of the pipe 10 functions as the mouthpiece and is received in theuser's mouth. As explained in more detail below, a source of heat, whichis typically an open flame from a torch lighter, match, cigarettelighter or the like, is applied above the first end 20 of the pipe 10while the user draws air into the pipe 10 through mouth-applied suctionat the second end 22 of the pipe 10 to draw vaporized smoking product 17into his or her mouth. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the entire pipe 10 is made out of glass.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and 8, inside or immediately below thebowl 16 is a screen support area 24 that is configured to removablysupport a screen (not shown) on one or more screen supports 26. Thescreen supports 26 extend generally inwardly from the inside wall of thepipe 10 at or immediately below the bowl 16 to support smoking material17 on a screen or other product support device (i.e., the pellet shownas 28). Preferably, the product support device and the screen supports26 are configured to interfere as little as possible with the flow ofair and vapor through the pipe 10 and the screen should be able to beremoved from pipe 10 as necessary or desired for cleaning. In thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, screen supports 26 arealso made out of glass. In one embodiment, a standard wire mesh metallicscreen, such as those commonly available and manufactured out ofstainless steel or the like, can be utilized with the pipe 10. If anysuch embodiment, the wire mesh of the screen should be selected so as tofacilitate flow of air and vapor through the pipe 10 and yet be able toprevent the suctioning of any of the smoking product 17 or the residueleft from the smoking product 17. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, however, the screen is also made out of glass orother material that will not contaminate the product vapor with anymetallic taste. Many people are very adamant or at least strongly preferthat no metal be utilized in the pipe 10 to contaminate the smokingproduct 17, which can be very expensive, with the metallic “flavor” thatresults from a metal screen.

In the preferred embodiment, instead of a screen the pipe 10 utilizes anon-metallic product support pellet 28 that is sized and configured tofit within the open top 30, shown in FIG. 3, of the bowl 16 and rest onthe screen supports 26 at screen support area 24, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 8. In a preferred embodiment, the pellet 28 is round or nearly roundand has a substantially planar upper surface 32, as shown in FIGS. 4 and5, on which the smoking product 17 is placed, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8,when the user desires to utilize pipe 10. Preferably, the lower surface34 of pellet 28 is also substantially planar and the pellet 28 is sizedsuch that it will rest on the screen supports 26 in a manner thatfacilitates air flow past the pellet 28 to the stem 18 and the user atsecond end 22. To help avoid loss of the pellet 28 during use, thepellet 28 is preferably sized with a sidewall 36 having sufficientthickness to make pellet 28 more visible and to resist breakage. Ifdesired, however, the sidewall 36 of pellet 28 can be of any thicknessand/or could be of the same or contrasting hue as the rest of pipe 10.

If desired, the pipe 10 can be utilized with an open flame, such as froma match or lighter, directly over the smoking product 17 in the samemanner as a conventional pipe. In the preferred embodiment of thesmoking apparatus of the present invention, however, pipe 10 includes adiffuser 38 that is used to vaporize smoking product 17 instead ofburning product 17. In the preferred embodiment, the diffuser 38 is alsomade entirely out of glass. The diffuser 38 has a first end 40 and asecond end 42, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. First end 40 ofdiffuser 38 comprises a diffusing element 44 that is configured todiffuse the heat source, particularly an open flame, prior to the heatsource engaging the smoking product 17 on pellet 28. As known in theart, diffuser 38 comprises a plurality of very small apertures, showngenerally as 46 in FIGS. 2 and 7, that diffuse the heat across the widthof bowl 16 such that the smoking product 17 on the upper surface 32 ofpellet 28 is vaporized instead of burned. A variety of sizes may beapplicable to the apertures 46 of diffusing element 44, as long as theyare sized to sufficiently diffuse the heat source prior to engaging thesmoking product 17. In a preferred embodiment, the apertures 46 ofdiffusing element 44 are approximately 1/32 to 3/64 of an inch in size.The diffusing element 44 should be of sufficient thickness to assist indiffusing the heat source without unduly inhibiting its flow to thesmoking product 17 on the pellet 28. In one embodiment, the thickness ofthe diffusing element 44 is approximately 3 mm to 6 mm. The position ofthe screen supports 26 should be selected such that the upper surface 32of pellet 28 will be spaced sufficiently from the position of thediffusing element 44 when the diffuser 38 is received in the bowl 26 sothe flame will not directly contact, and therefore burn, the smokingproduct 17 on the pellet 28

As stated above, in the preferred embodiment of the present inventionthe diffuser 38 is entirely made out of glass. In this embodiment,diffusing element 44 can be a frit material, which is the material fromwhich glass is made after having been calcined or partly fused in afurnace but before vitrification. In a preferred embodiment, the frithas a porosity of 150 to 250 μm. The frit size should be chosen suchthat the heat source, particularly an open flame, is kept off of directcontact with the smoking material 17 on pellet 28. The coarseness orfineness of the frit, which controls how much heat/flame passes throughthe diffusing element 44, can be selected based on the desiredvaporizing of the smoking material 17. As stated above, the preferredamount is that amount which vaporizes the smoking material 17 instead ofburning it. The frit for diffusing element 44 is commonly utilized inchemistry applications for filtering liquids and gasses. As best shownin FIG. 2, the diffusing element 44 is preferably disposed at or nearthe top or first end 40 of the diffuser 38. The frit for diffusingelement 44 is cut to size to fit inside the first end 40 of diffuser 38,substantially matching the size and configuration of first end 40. Thediffusing element 44 is then attached to the inside of the first end 40of diffuser 38 using techniques commonly known in the art. Although theentire peripheral edge of the diffusing element 44 can be secured to theinside of diffuser 38, substantially sealing diffusing element 44 to theinside surface of diffuser 38, in the preferred embodiment the diffusingelement 44 is only secured at several positions (e.g., three positions),thereby leaving the remaining peripheral edge of the diffusing element44 in spaced apart relation to the inside surface of diffuser 38 (i.e.,unattached to the inside surface of diffuser 38). This will provide asmall amount of additional air input for the user when he or she ispulling the heat from the flame to the smoking product 17 on productsupport pellet 28. This air input space around the diffusing element 44should be sufficiently small so as to prevent the flame from burning thesmoking product 17, instead of vaporizing it, and small enough toprevent cooling (which would interfere with the desired vaporizing).

The second end 42 of diffuser 38 is sized and configured to snugly fitinside the open top end 30 of bowl 16, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8.Because the pipe 10 of the preferred embodiment is made out of glass,the portion of diffuser 38 towards the second end 42 thereof should beconfigured to be received in and engage the inside surface of bowl 16 ofpipe 10. In a preferred embodiment, the second end 42 of the diffuser 38and the bowl 16 are correspondingly tapered such that the second end 42of diffuser 38 engages the inside walls of the bowl 16. To provide thedesired seal, the lower portion of the diffuser 38 and the bowl 16should be precision grounded tapered glass joints, which provide aglass-to-glass seal, shown as 48 for the bowl 16 and 50 for the diffuser38. Such glass joints are commonly available and well known by thoseskilled in the relevant art. In the figures, the tapered glass joints 48and 50 are shown as the shaded components in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.

In the preferred configuration of the present invention, the pipe 10also includes a center bowl-shaped section 52 approximately mid-waybetween the first end 20 and second end 22 of pipe 10, as best shown inFIGS. 1 through 3 and 8. The bowl-shaped section 52 provides a chamber54 that is useful for trapping any particulate matter drawn past theproduct support pellet 28 to avoid inhalation of the particulate matterby the user during use of pipe 10. Preferably, bowl-shaped section 52has a flat bottom surface 56 that is useful for standing pipe 10 up on aflat surface such as a table or the like. In the preferred embodiment,the pipe 10 has a relatively wide, flattened section 58 at or near thesecond end 22 thereof that forms a mouthpiece 60, as best shown in FIG.2, to allow the user to better draw air through the diffuser 38 and stem18 of pipe 10. Although many people prefer pipe 10 being gently curvedforward of the bowl-shaped section 52, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, inpart because the pipe 10 is easier to store and transport, pipe 10 canalso be configured such that the area generally forward of thebowl-shaped section 52 is substantially perpendicular or upwardlydisposed relative to stem 18, as shown in the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 8. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art,various other configurations can be utilized for pipe 10 of the presentinvention.

In use, the user places the pellet 28 onto the screen supports 26 of thescreen support area 24, places the smoking product 17 on the uppersurface 32 of the pellet 28, inserts the second end 42 of the diffuser38 into the open top 30 of the bowl 16 and then holds the heat source,preferably a torch lighter or the light (but alternatively a match orstandard cigarette lighter), above the diffusing element 44 of diffuser38 while drawing air through the pipe 10 using his or her mouth at thesecond end 22 thereof. The torch lighter or like flame device, such asthose used for lighting furnaces and fires in fireplaces, is preferredbecause it generally puts out a flame having a higher temperature. Thehigher temperature flame will better vaporize the smoking product 17 andtend not to leave burn residue on diffusing element 44. In a preferreduse, the user will pre-heat the outside of the diffuser 38 forapproximately fifteen seconds prior to applying the flame to diffusingelement 44. This pre-heating warms the glass of the diffuser 38 and thesmoking product 17 inside bowl 16 to better vaporize the product 17. Thediffusing element 44 will diffuse the heat source and vaporize thesmoking product 17 on the pellet 28, allowing the user to draw theproduct vapor into his or her mouth. With pipe 10, the benefits of usinga glass pipe 10 and a diffuser 38, as set forth above, is achieved. Inthe preferred embodiment, no metal touches the smoking product 17 and nometallic taste is added to the product vapor.

In alternative embodiments, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the smokingapparatus is configured as water pipe adapter 12 or water pipe adapter14. For both embodiments, the smoking apparatus 12/14 is configured andutilized substantially the same as the corresponding portions of pipe10. As shown in FIG. 9, water pipe adapter 12 has the bowl 16 and screensupport area 24 configured the same as described above. The stem 18,however, is much shorter and the area of stem 18 towards the second end22 of the apparatus 12 comprises a precision grounded tapered glassjoint 62 so it can be sealably received in a correspondingly shaped andsized aperture component of the water pipe (not shown). The water pipeadapter 14, shown in FIG. 10, is configured substantially the same aswater pipe adapter 12 except it will generally not be necessary toprovide the tapered glass joint at the bottom of the stem 18. If such atapered glass joint is necessary, then it should be added to the waterpipe adapter 14. The second end 22 of adapter 14 should be sized andconfigured to fit within a correspondingly sized aperture of the waterpipe (not shown). Typically, adapter 14 will include a handle 64 so theuser can remove the adapter 14 from the water pipe without handling thehot bowl 16 and screen support area 24 of the adapter 14. Both adapters12/14 utilize the product support pellet 28 and the diffuser 38, shownin FIGS. 1 through 7, in the manner described above to vaporize product17 inside bowl 16.

While there are shown and described herein a specific form of theinvention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to variousmodifications and rearrangements in design and materials withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, itshould be noted that the present invention is subject to modificationwith regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein andmodifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use. For instance,there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced withequivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of thepresent invention.

1. A smoking apparatus for vaporizing a smoking product, comprising: abowl at or near a first end of said smoking apparatus, said bowl havingan open top end configured to receive the smoking product therethrough;a hollow stem towards a second end of said smoking apparatus, said stemin fluid flow communication with said bowl for a user to draw air andvaporized product from said bowl through said stem; a screen supportarea disposed below said bowl, said screen support comprising one ormore screen supports; a product support on said one or more screensupports, said product support configured to receive and support thesmoking product thereon; and a diffuser having a first end and a secondend, said second end removably received in said open top end of saidbowl, said diffuser sized and configured to engage said bowl and be inspaced apart relation to the smoking product on said product support,said diffuser configured to allow a user to draw air and heat into saidbowl and to diffuse heat across the smoking product so as to vaporizethe smoking product.
 2. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidproduct support is a pellet having a substantially planar upper surfaceon which to receive the smoking product, said product support and saidone or more screen supports cooperatively configured to allow air andvapor to pass around said product support pellet to said stem.
 3. Thesmoking apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pellet is made out of glass.4. The smoking apparatus of claim 3, wherein said pellet is removablyreceived on said screen supports.
 5. The smoking apparatus of claim 1,wherein said bowl, said stem, said one or more screen supports, saidproduct support and said diffuser are made out of glass.
 6. The smokingapparatus of claim 1, wherein said diffuser comprises a diffusingelement made out of frit at or near said first end of said diffuser,said diffusing element having a plurality of apertures therein.
 7. Thesmoking apparatus of claim 6, wherein said diffusing element has aporosity of 150 to 250 μm.
 8. The smoking apparatus of claim 6, whereinsaid diffusing element is fixedly secured in said diffuser.
 9. Thesmoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said smoking apparatus isconfigured as a pipe.
 10. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidsmoking apparatus is configured as an adapter.
 11. A smoking apparatusfor vaporizing a smoking product, comprising: a bowl at or near a firstend of said smoking apparatus, said bowl having an open top endconfigured to receive the smoking product therethrough; a hollow stemtowards a second end of said smoking apparatus, said stem in fluid flowcommunication with said bowl for a user to draw air and vaporizedproduct from said bowl through said stem; a screen support area disposedbelow said bowl, said screen support comprising one or more screensupports; a product support pellet on said one or more screen supports,said product support pellet having a substantially planar upper surfaceon which to receive and support the smoking product, said productsupport pellet and said one or more screen supports cooperativelyconfigured to allow air and vapor to pass around said product supportpellet to said stem; a diffuser having a first end and a second end,said second end removably received in said open top end of said bowl,said diffuser sized and configured to engage said bowl and be in spacedapart relation to the smoking product on said product support; and adiffusing element fixedly secured inside said diffuser at or near saidfirst end thereof, said diffusing element made out frit having aplurality of apertures therein, said diffusing element configured toallow a user to draw air and heat into said bowl through said diffuserand to diffuse heat across the smoking product so as to vaporize thesmoking product.
 12. The smoking apparatus of claim 11, wherein saidbowl, said stem, said one or more screen supports, said product supportpellet and said diffuser are made out of glass.
 13. The smokingapparatus of claim 12, wherein said smoking apparatus is configured as apipe.
 14. The smoking apparatus of claim 12, wherein said smokingapparatus is configured as an adapter.
 15. The smoking apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein said diffusing element has a porosity of 150 to 250μm.